Hair-rubber product



B. BRONSON HAIR RUBBER PRODUCT Feb. 12, 1929. 1,701,526

Filed Dec, 1925 .Ezv 6716C) 2 Patented Feb. 12, 1929.

term a hair rubber car et. The chief object of t vide a rubber product re-inforced and strengthened by animal hair and preferably a particular kind of animal hair so as to produce a product having great abrasive resistance and tensile strength.

A further object is to provide a distinct improvement over rubber mats, carpets and other floor covering such as those used in automobiles, by providing an article which, while approaching the appearance and gen- \UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BUDD BBONSON, OF LAKEWOOD,

This invention relates to a hair rubber product and in its more specific aspect or when made into the form for which it has speeral characteristics of hair tapestry carpet,

has greater tensile str sistance.

sential ingredients,

pure gum, and stiff a goats hair and treat the ingredients, in fact,

carry out the process hair is not broken down nor burned nor otherwise caused to lose its original characteristics.

The proportions of hair and pure gum will vary in accordance with the particular use for which the product is intended. In pro-. ducing a hair rubber carpet suitable for covering automobile flooring, I have found that very good results are obtained by using about thirty-three and one-third percent by weight of ure gum, about the same amount of goats hair, about sixteen and two-thirds percent of ground tire carcass, with the remainder made crnvnnnnn, 01110, a coarona'rron or 0x10.

marinara rnonucr.

Application filed December 5, 1925. Serial 1T0. 78,8 88.

cial utility, the invention relates to what I celerator.

e invention is to proength and abrasive redients, with the exception 0 By decreasing slightly the rubber content, and increasing the hair content, the a pearance of hair tapestry carpet a slightly greater degree, strength and abrasive resis ished product is somewhat decreased.

In carrying out the proc is approac ed to but the tensile tance of the finess all the in ef the goats air is milled or mixed for a certain number of minutes or until the compound is thoroughly mixed. Before removing the compound from the mixer the hair is fed rapidly be: tween the rolls, the material removed from the mill, sheeted through a calender, blanked,

OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE OHIO RUBBER COMPANY, OI

up of small'percentages of miscellaneous ingredients, which may include zinc oxide, cotton seed oil, lime, sulphur and a suitable acand put up in rolls on cotton liners ready for summarized vulcanization.

certain eswhich are lowed to go through destroying sile strength.

The hair is dyes ercentage of nimal hair, preferably in such a way that the form and a large extent.

The product hair for only a brief period vent breaking down the hair fiber. found by experiment that if the hair is althe entire mixing or milling process the fibers are broken down,

' To complete the produ forming hair rubber car material is placed in a vu with severe pressure the top face of the sheet is molded to assume the form and appearance losing their identity inthe finished product the appearance of the materia and reducing its abrasive resistance and tenpreferably dyed with aniline before mixing with the rubber compound. I find that in this manner the desired coloring effects can be given tov the finished article which are not destroyed by contact with air and sun light. On the other hand, I find that if dry pigments are placed in the rubber mixture before vulcanization, the original and desired colors are lost to containing the ingredients and formed in the manner above explained has the stifi animal hair in practically its original lengths interspersed t roughout the,

ct if to be used in et, the calendered anizing mold and The reason for mixing the v of time is to pre- I have of woven carpet, this being done in either steel or hard rubber molds and preferably the material is vulcanized in the molds. All this can be accomplished in standard steam hydraulic presses.

I prefer to re-inforce this hair rubber carpet with a backing of suitable woven material which may be burlap or other textile, which in some instances consists of carpet Woven especially for this purpose and without the yarn facing or usual top wearing surface. This woven backing is preferably frictioned on both sides with pure rubber and is vulcanized to the sheet of hair rubber carpet. This is preferably done by placing the frictioned woven fabric in the mold of the vulcanizing press so that it is pressed firmly in contact with the hair rubber sheet at the same time that the latter is given on its top face the molded tapestry and the whole is vulcanized together While subjected to this pressure.

By this process there is produced a product having the appearance of woven tapestry carpet, to some extent even to the nap, due to the ends of the goats hair projecting through the top surface and for many purposes it is superior to tapestry carpets, rubber mats and other floor covering because the abrasive resistance and tensile strength are greater. It is also waterproof and can be readily cleaned and retains its original appearance. Additionally it is sanitary; surface dirt may be removed easily and such dirt or dust that would ordinarily become embedded in the weave of regular carpet or textile, remains on the surface and is easily brushed or washed ofl.

The product is very well adapted for floor coverings in automobiles as it has the general appearance of tapestry carpet and can be used in place of carpet Where carpet is now employed and is far superior-to rubber mats which are objected to by many users due to their cold appearance. Furthermore, my improved product is made in fairly large and long sheets and sections of suitable size and shape are blanked out of the sheet to fit the individual car design, and there is nonecesslty for binding the edges and interior cutcuts, as is now done with carpet, thereby reduclng the labor cost and equipment necessary for this work. Furthermore, since the fabric backing, if the latter is employed, is thoroughly embedded in the hair rubber compound, it will not unravel. Finally it might be stated that the product is, of course, flexible, like tapestry carpet.

It is important in carrying out my invention not only that the goats hair be not broken down or pulverized, but that it be not burned at any stage of the process of producing the hair rubber product; therefore, care should be exercised that the calender rolls do not become too hot and in fact, may

carpet appearance,

morass actually be cooled. Furthermore a fast accelerator is incorporated in the rubber mass for hastening the vulcanization since the material must be vulcanized at low temperature and for a short period of time to avoid burning or injuring the goats hair.

Goats hair has distinct advantages over wool or other animal fibers, as I have found in actual practice that wool fiber and animal hair other than goats hair break down more readily in the mills, thereby reducing the tensile strength and abrasive resistance and furthermore tend to more rapidly disintegrate the material. Furthermore the cheaper grades of wool fibers, cotton shoddy, and other animal hair, such as cattle hair are usually so impregnated with dirt and other foreign matter as to be not controllable in producing a uniform product, and in addition have the other disadvantages mentioned above.

In the drawing I have shown a section of hair rubber carpet designated generally by the reference character 10 and composed of the body 10 of hair and rubber and the backing 10 of suitable woven fabric, virtually embedded in the hair rubber compound and vulcanized thereto.

While my improved hair rubber product finds great utility in the production of hair rubber carpet for the reasons explained above and while I have described the process of working up the product into the form of hair rubber carpet, the product may be used in other forms and for other purposes, as for example, in many instances where leather and special compounds are used for packing, washers and the like. In producin articles such as those just mentioned, the a ove described process utilized in forming the hair rubber carpet is carried out, though, of course, the molded fabric appearance is not given to the material, and the proportions of the ingredients may be varied to suit the requirements.

I therefore do not desire to be confined to the precise details described nor to the precise ingredients mentioned, except as to the essential ingredients, nor to any particular proportions of such ingredients, but aim in my claims to cover all modifications which do not involve a departure from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A rubber hair carpet provided with a tread surface having the appearance of woven fabric and composed of rubber having animal hair incorporated therein, portions of said hair being exposed at said tread surface and all vulcanized together.

2. Hair rubber carpet having a surface molded in simulation of woven carpet and composed of rubber compound having goats hair incorporated and mixed therewith portions of said hair being exposed at said sursurface resembling a woven carpet, and face and all vulcanized together. caused by having a portion of the hair ex- 3. An imitation carpet comprising rubber posed at said surface. 10 and hair of thestifier type, the tread sur- In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix my 5 face resembling the nap of a carpet due to the signature.

exposure of portions of said hair.

4. A hair rubber covering having a nap BUDD BRONSON. 

